Montrose County, Colorado

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.5 | 44,156 people · 30th most distressed in Colorado
American Default Research

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Montrose County, CO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.5 — 2097th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Colorado, it ranks 30th of 64 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Montrose County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 79.1 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 79.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 84
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 76
Homeownership Rate 49
Economic Vitality 45.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 63
Rent-to-Income Ratio 48
Business Formation Rate 4
House Price Change (YoY) 34
Structural Poverty 44.1
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 26
Income vs. State Median 70
Child Poverty Rate 32
Disability Rate 23
Transfer Income Dependency 50
Legal Distress 41.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 42
Consumer Credit Distress 22.2
Debt in Collections 12
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 16
Credit Card Delinquency 28
Uninsured Rate 81
Subprime Credit Population 21

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Montrose County
Montrose County, CO 41.5 Normal —
Grand County, UT 53.3 Elevated +11.9
San Juan County, UT 51.9 Elevated +10.5
Delta County, CO 49.2 Normal +7.8
Mesa County, CO 46.1 Normal +4.6
Gunnison County, CO 32.4 Healthy -9.1
Ouray County, CO 30.4 Healthy -11.0
San Miguel County, CO 29.6 Healthy -11.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Montrose County
Jackson County, WI 41.5 Normal -0.0
Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK 41.4 Normal -0.0
Amador County, CA 41.5 Normal +0.0
Muscatine County, IA 41.4 Normal -0.0
Talbot County, MD 41.5 Normal +0.0

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Montrose County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Montrose County

Find an Attorney

Colorado Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Colorado Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 303-831-8000

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Montrose County residents at no cost.

Colorado Legal Services 303-837-1313 (Denver); 1-866-529-6257 (statewide)
Colorado Volunteer Lawyer Resource (CVLR) 303-722-0300
Colorado Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 303-831-8000 (Denver); 1-800-332-6736 (statewide)

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Montrose County, Colorado?

    Montrose County has a County Distress Index score of 41.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,097th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in Colorado out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Montrose County?

    The primary driver of distress in Montrose County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 79.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Montrose County compare to neighboring counties?

    Montrose County (41.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Grand County, UT (53.3); San Juan County, UT (51.9); Delta County, CO (49.2).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Montrose County's score of 41.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Montrose County's CDI score?

    Montrose County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Montrose County?

    Montrose County, Colorado has a population of approximately 44,156 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.